Multiple Rebel ‘Naga Armies’ in Nagaland Without rooting out the parallel structures of an illegitimate economy and violence existing in Nagaland, efforts undertaken by Naga civil society to bring about peaceful reconciliation would only deliver sub-optimal results. Namrata Goswami July 06, 2012 IDSA Comments
African Union COMMISSION IN A STALEMATE The imbroglio over who should be chairperson of the African Union Commission has exposed deep divisions among African states, which will undermine the effective functioning of the commission itself. Babjee Pothuraju July 06, 2012 Backgrounder
SM Krishna’s Visit to Tajikistan and India’s ‘Connect Central Asia’ Policy SM Krishna’s visit marks the stepping up of India’s newly pronounced ‘connect Central Asia’ policy, although the biggest challenge is convert the proposals into reality. Meena Singh Roy July 05, 2012 IDSA Comments
Debating the Interlocutors’ Report on Jammu and Kashmir There is much scope for imaginative thinking on the desirability, compatibility of goals and feasibility of the political, cultural and socio-economic components of the new compact as suggested by the Interlocutors. Arpita Anant July 04, 2012 IDSA Comments
ULFA Talks: Focusing the Dialogue on Resolvables It is important that the ULFA talks do not get enmeshed on issues that create divisions, counter-claims and result in lack of consensus leading to a locked positional dialogue with no resolution in sight. Namrata Goswami July 03, 2012 IDSA Comments
The Arms Trade Treaty and India Since the idea of export controls may be new for a large number of countries, and most of the proposed provisions are borrowed from existing systems in developed countries, the treaty should be flexible enough to remove redundant provisions and adopt new provisions suitable for changed circumstances. Rajiv Nayan July 02, 2012 IDSA Comments
Stabilising Afghanistan: Role of Key Regional Players Unless the Central Asian states, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Russia jointly contribute towards ensuring stability, Afghanistan is likely to fall to the Taliban again or even break up. Gurmeet Kanwal July 02, 2012 IDSA Comments
Beyond the Maoist Split: The political impasse to continue Genuine negotiation efforts, timely discussions, and broader participation of groups asserting rights based on identity are necessary to help break the impasse in Nepali politics on the issue of federalism. Monalisa Adhikari July 02, 2012 IDSA Comments
Where China Meets India: Burma and the New Crossroads of Asia by Thant Myint-U Thant Myint-U has written a book that weaves together travel anecdotes, historical narratives, strategic discourse and an optimistic future for Burma, the country he originally belongs to. The book is neatly divided into three sections: Burma, China and India. Drawing attention to the critical significance of Burma as the connecting edge between two rising giants of Asia, Myint-U elegantly argues that the future geopolitical map of Asia will be drawn in this, until now, ‘backwater’ state (p. 6). Namrata Goswami July 2012 Strategic Analysis
Investigative Journalism in China: Journalism, Power and Society by Jingrong Tong There have been a number of transformations within China since the opening of the Chinese economy in 1978. The changes are not confined to economy only but have had effects on other aspects as well. One of the major areas witnessing unprecedented changes is the state–society dynamic. The media has played an important role in managing the state–society relations in China. The Chinese media has traditionally played the role of the ‘mouth piece’ of the party, as is expected in any authoritarian communist system. Gunjan Singh July 2012 Strategic Analysis
